The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are set to hit the shelves soon, but a possibility exists that consumers will have a tough time procuring the smartphones.
According to reports, Samsung is facing a supply shortage issue for the chipsets, which will power the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.
A report from Korea Herald reveals, that the slow production of Qualcomm chipsets may negatively impact the distribution of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Sources have let on to the publication that the production of Samsung's Exynos 8895 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 are sluggish.
"The supply of Samsung Electronics Co.'s upcoming flagship smartphone, presumably the Galaxy S8, may fail to meet demand due to the sluggish production of Qualcomm chipsets, industry sources said Tuesday," noted the publication.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Shifted: Chipset Shortage To Blame?
In March, leakster Evan Blass shared that the launch of both Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ could be delayed by a week. The initial expected release date of the smartphones was April 21, but Blass said it was deferred to April 28. Possibly, the sluggish production of the chipsets led to the release being postponed.
How The Chip Shortage Will Impact Samsung
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will be the first smartphones to house Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 CPU. Some variants of the smartphones, which will be available in South Korea and a few other markets across the globe, will be powered by the company's Exynos 8895 chipset.
Reports of Samsung calling dibs on the Snapdragon 835 have emerged online frequently. This was one of the reasons why other OEMs were unable to deploy the chipset on their handsets. Rival LG for instance, was forced to shift to a different processor, or delay the launch of the LG G6 due to Snapdragon 835 SoC's unavailability.
Samsung was able to monopolize the chipset as it has reportedly assisted Qualcomm in manufacturing the Snapdragon 835. Reports that the Snapdragon 835 chipset will not be made available to other OEMs till the launch of the Galaxy S8 have also been rampant.
It is rumored, that Samsung is expecting plenty of preorders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, more than those of the Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy S7 edge.
If Samsung is unable to fulfill the consumer demand for its next-gen flagship, the company could be in troubled waters. This scenario seems likely if the company does not have adequate Exynos 8895 and Snapdragon 835 chipsets to power its smartphones. The slow production of the chipsets will undoubtedly impact the sales of the smartphones.
If the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are not available for purchase, consumers may gravitate toward other handsets such as the LG G6. Moreover, post its Galaxy Note 7 debacle, Samsung needs to keep consumers in good humor.
The OEM promised a Galaxy S8 smartphone to those who bought the Galaxy Note 7 as a replacement, which is also something the company will need to honor. However, the supply shortage of the Galaxy S8 may not allow Samsung to come through on its promise. This would likely lead to more consumer resentment, putting the company's reputation in jeopardy.
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are expected to become available for preorder in April. It remains to be seen if Samsung can meet consumer demand, despite supposed chipset shortages.
